Cycling on paths and other cycling issues (updated title)

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

So signage painted on the ground? Again which particular parks you're seeing this in would be helpful.

How would it be helpful?

Is it ok for a cyclist to break this posted speed limit?

TaurenDruid wrote: »

Wrong on pretty much all counts.

Cycling's great. Lots of my friends and family are into it. The more people who cycle, the fewer who are in cars, the faster my bus can get me to work or home, when I'm back on public transport. Personally, I prefer running. But am looking at e-bikes and thinking, maybe...

I fully support segregated cycling infrastructure. The Liffey cycle track is great and I really like the green light for cyclists a few seconds earlier than for motorists.

I've no problem hanging back when I come across a couple of cyclists on a back road, or a main road for that matter, until I can safely pass, and teaching my son to drive at the moment, I emphasise the need to give cyclists space and to beware possibly erratic cycling as they avoid potholes or idiots opening car doors without looking.

I'd just like to be able to walk or run on the footpath without having to dodge cyclists (again, cos apparently it needs to be repeated, I'm not bothered by young kids on bikes on the footpath), and not see them fly through red lights, whether it's for pedestrians or anyone using the road.

Doesn't seem too much to ask, really.

I don't think there's anything unreasonable in any of that.

Leaving aside all the other various noise in this thread, here's my personal take on cycling on footpaths:

1) I sometimes ride on the footpath along with the kids. Reason I dont let them ride on the footpath and ride on the road myself is that on some of the roads, going at their speed on the side of the road makes me feel like a sitting duck (pun not intended) for some drivers that are lacking in the patience department.

2) When on my own, or with other experience riders, I happy enough to ride on roads. I can't say I never ride on footpaths because the general quality of some of our infrastructure is so bad that sometimes shared path etc have complete lack of decent signage. I have sometimes gotten the feeling that a shared path I was on already finished and is now just a footpath and I was somehow supposed to know this.


3) If my partner, who is much less experienced riding on Irish roads) went out, I would feel much safer if she takes the footpath in certain areas, because TBH I see too much impatient and downright dangerous behavior by drivers to feel confident that I can trust them to keep my loved ones safe when they are so vulnerable on the road.

4) I would expect my partner, or anyone who uses a footpath while on the bike to display absolute courtesy and respect to anyone they encounter walking on footpaths at the same time. I always impress this on my kids that in using the footpaths they should considers themselves guests and always give priority and respect to those walking.

5) I've no time for the tossers you see around the city centre that bully their way through people on footpaths - they should be dealt with, without a doubt.

6) To re-use your phrase, I just want for me, and my loved ones to be able to get from A to B on a bike without having to risk our lives. That doesn't seem too much to ask to me.

I find the roads today incredibly hostile towards people on bikes and I can't really understand why.

I find, even as someone who's pretty confident on a bike, there's certain rural roads near me that I still have to mentally "armour myself up" before I ride on them. The reason being, some driver behavior is bad - ranging from casually careless to full-on psychotic towards people on bikes. Given those attitudes are on display, I don't condemn anyone who uses an available footpath (respectfully, as above) out of fear of how certain drivers drive.

For some reason, driver behavior varies wildly according to whether I am together with my family (ah, that's nice, a family out for a cycle together), or out by myself (male, middle aged cyclist - teach the f**ker a lesson !). I think the fact that this diversity of driver care exists is indicative of a big bullying problem on our roads that the state seems blissfully unaware of , but IMO its something that needs to be recognised and tackled strongly.

Leaving aside the ignorant idiots mentioned in 5) , I think many people are using the footpath out of fear. As another poster said - tackle the root cause behind that which is people, when they use the road, having to deal with hostile and endangering behavior from a certain section of drivers.

My 2c.

TaurenDruid wrote: »

Well, variable, depending on what bit you're on. Why don't you look it up?

Or are you trying to score some pedantic victory? "HA! The bit of the M50 that has 3 lanes only ever has a max limit of 100kmph, YOU SPEED MANIAC MONSTER!"

I'm know exactly what they are. You put your foot in it, again, and trying to brush it off. You whinge about cyclists breaking a limit, of which you can't say, and when you spoof about the limit in the motorway you make light out of it and try sweep it away that it's no harm breaking it. Hypocrite much?

So I'll ask again, what's the limit on the 3 lane sections of the M50 that you feel you have to repeat a complaint of driving at 100 in the middle lane?

It's an easy question for someone who uses it regularly and are so opinionated about how others can't understand the rotr.

magicbastarder wrote: »

good god. the M50 is 30km at 100km/h, and 7km at 120km/h.

and you thought it was 120km/h all the way round?

In fairness most people use it at 120 kph plus, so can see where he got that from. But yeah, speeding cyclists:rolleyes:

Spook_ie wrote: »

but I was right about it being 120Kph even from distant memory.

C'mon now, let go of the straws you're frantically clutching at You weren't right about what we were talking about and who my barbs were aimed at.

Rezident wrote: »

Nah, it is not illegal, cycling dangerously is illegal but cycling on a path is not, otherwise 5 year-olds would be breaking the law for cycling on the path and would be forced to cycle their tricycles on the road with cars, which would be a bit mad, wouldn't it?

I saw a jogger jogging IN THE CYCLE LANE recently, instead of on the path! SO I was going to start a thread on Boards about it and get outraged, but do you know what I did instead? I just got on with my life.

Cycling on the pavement is illegal even for 5 year olds. Thankfully it’s not enforced.

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Like this, you mean?

https://streamable.com/lyie8l

No, because that's a car driver, not a bike.

Again, deflection, all the ****ing time from you. "LOOK, A CAR DID SOMETHING WRONG!"

And if I could be arsed, I'd stand at Amiens Street or Raheny or Fairview or Pearse Street or wherever traffic lights or junctions and video > 90% of cyclists approach the red lights then keep on going straight through.

Difference is I can acknowledge that the drivers shouldn't be doing it, whereas your reaction is "Well if other people are doing it then I can."

07Lapierre wrote: »

Cyclists break red light! We know that. The Gardai don’t care, get over it.

Funny you should say that. I was out for a cycle last night and was stopped at a set of lights when two other cyclists came up behind me and kept going through the red. It takes a special kind of eejit though to keep going through the red when the car at the top of the line of traffic is a cop car.
The two were pulled over straight away, to be honest I thought it was a glorious moment.
Was the only good part of the cycle though as I was still feeling the effects of the night before celebrating Liverpool, my legs didn't want to do what my head wanted them too

07Lapierre wrote: »

Cyclists break red light! We know that. The Gardai don’t care, get over it.

Good...delighted to hear it!

One of these things is not like the other...

You're joining the "non-cyclist says something, it's bad/cyclist says something, it's good!" camp? Move over, Thelonius and Andy, you have more company.

TaurenDruid wrote: »

One of these things is not like the other...

You're joining the "non-cyclist says something, it's bad/cyclist says something, it's good!" camp? Move over, Thelonius and Andy, you have more company.

One incident where a muppet is stopped by a Garda for RLJ is very rare! Hardly proof that Gardai take RLJ by cyclists seriously.